Megha Udayshankar is a dedicated professional with over 10 years of experience in the heavy civil construction industry. She has advanced through various roles, including estimator, field engineer, project engineer, and currently she is a scheduler. Based in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area, Megha’s career has been shaped by her involvement in a diverse range of projects, from commercial construction to heavy civil roadway and bridge projects.

Originally from Bangalore, India, Megha earned her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Bangalore University. She began her career in commercial and residential construction, where she managed daily field operations, tracked costs and quantities, and coordinated with subcontractors and material suppliers. Her commitment to continuous learning led her to complete a master’s degree in civil engineering at the University of Texas at San Antonio, specializing in transportation and environmental engineering.

At Zachry Construction Corporation, Megha has played a crucial role in estimating, project engineering, and scheduling. In her current position as a scheduler, she manages schedule updates, forecasting, commodity curves, time impact analyses (TIAs), escalations, and claims for heavy civil projects in the DFW area. Megha’s diverse project experience has provided her with a comprehensive skill set that encompasses project management, cost control, scheduling, and claims analysis.

Introduced to AACE by Josh Wollan, Director of Project Controls (Scheduling) at Zachry, Megha attended the 2023 AACE conference in Chicago. She found great value in the Rising Professionals and Women in Project Controls groups and continues to leverage the knowledge gained from the seminars and sessions to enhance her work.

Advice for Upcoming Engineers/Project Control Professionals:

“I encourage new engineers and project control professionals to seek mentors who can support and guide them through their professional journey. Engage with professional associations like AACE; these networks offer invaluable opportunities for growth and learning from diverse backgrounds.”